V-C appointment delayed again

The University of Pune’s (UoP) wait for a Vice-Chancellor (V-C) just got longer. The state government has asked for two weeks’ time to file its say in a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Thane-based activist in the Bombay High Court saying the appointment procedure violates the University Grant Commission (UGC) norms.

Though the PIL had been filed,the court had given a go-ahead for the interviews to be conducted on January 9,following which five candidates were shortlisted. However,the procedure has not been completed because the PIL contends the entire process,including the appointment of the search committee.

Suresh Patil-Khede,the petitioner,in his PIL,has said as per the UGC guidelines,a person who has been attached to the university in any way cannot be part of the search committee. “The expert committee needs to have a composition of people from the field of education. Also,a member of the search committee has been involved with the UoP. The present search committee should be scrapped and the procedure restarted,” said Patil-Khede.

VB Tiwari,Patil-Khede’s counsel,said,“The government has asked for two weeks’ time to file its say. The V-C will not be appointed in that period.”